A Cape Town madrassa has become the latest institution caught in the Western Cape’s escalating extortion crisis, after demands for “protection money” triggered a formal SAPS investigation and urgent intervention from Muslim community leaders.
The incident, centred on a madrassa operating under Langa Township Projects, has sparked outrage and concern within sections of the Muslim community, amid growing fears that even houses of worship and religious schools are no longer beyond the reach of organised criminal networks.
According to the Cape Town Ulama Board (CTUB), the perpetrators demanded a once-off “registration fee” of R3,000, followed by monthly payments of R500, under threats of violence.
CTUB said it is believed the madrassa, fearing for the safety of its staff and children, paid the initial R3,000 demand.
For many residents, the case represents more than a criminal investigation. It is being viewed as an attack on sacred institutions sustained through sadaqah, community sacrifice and the efforts of ordinary Muslims working to educate children, preserve Islamic learning and serve vulnerable neighbourhoods.
According to CTUB, the madrassa initially attempted to seek assistance from local law enforcement but was turned away, prompting the organisation to intervene directly.
CTUB Executive Member Shaykh Sayed Ridhwaan told One Nation Media that the complainant approached the organisation traumatised and fearful after struggling to receive assistance.
“The Langa Madressa organisation reached out directly to the Cape Town Ulama Board for urgent intervention after their initial attempt to seek help from local law enforcement at Diep River SAPS was turned away. Because the complainant was traumatised and deeply terrified of being turned away a second time, he explicitly requested that we assist and accompany him to the police station. Recognising the immediate plea for assistance, the CTUB Community Guardianship Desk stepped in straight away,” he said.
Ridhwaan said that on the night of June 4, retired Colonel Dawood Laing, alongside Shaykh Sayed Ridhwaan and Member of Parliament Imraan Moosa, accompanied the complainant to Athlone Police Station, where a formal criminal case was opened.
“Upon arrival, Colonel Laing (Ret) spoke straight up, firmly demanding that a formal criminal case be registered immediately and insisting that it follow the correct legal channels to be handled directly by the specialised SAPS Extortion Unit,” he added.
A recording reviewed by One Nation Media captures a tense and emotional exchange linked to the incident, with a madrassa representative pushing back against demands for so-called “protection money”.
“That is God’s house; how can we pay you for God’s house protection? We’re not making money in God’s house, we’re not a shopkeeper,” the representative says in the recording.
“We don’t do business there, we are the house of God, house of uNkulunkulu,” he continued, using the isiZulu word for God.
The caller continues referring to “protection money” during the exchange.
Ridhwaan warned that the targeting of religious institutions reflected a dangerous escalation in extortion activity across parts of the Western Cape.
“We are profoundly concerned by this dangerous escalation in the Western Cape’s protection racket epidemic. Madressas, houses of worship, places of education and community charities are the very heartbeat of our society; they exist to feed the hungry, educate children, and uplift vulnerable neighbourhoods,” he said.
“They are entirely dependent on community goodwill and are not commercial enterprises. For criminal syndicates to aggressively target a religious school under explicit threats of violence is a vile act and an absolute indictment on our society. To extort a house of God is an assault on the entire community, and we cannot allow these predatory practices to become normalised.”
He also stressed the importance of reporting such crimes and escalating matters through the appropriate SAPS channels where necessary.
“This case underscores why community solidarity and steadfast reporting are absolutely vital. Criminal syndicates thrive on fear, silence, and isolation; if we do not report them, these syndicates will completely consume our neighbourhoods,” he told One Nation Media.
“It is crucial that victims do not succumb to intimidation and ensure these crimes are documented. Furthermore, if local station-level channels fail or refuse to assist as initially happened here, it is vital to escalate the matter through civil society structures and specialised provincial SAPS units immediately.”
Ridhwaan added that Advocate Councillor Shameemah Salie and the PAGAD leadership had also offered support in addressing the matter.
“This unified front between local leadership, civil society, and anti-crime movements sends a clear, powerful message: we will stand together, protect our institutions, and collectively reclaim Cape Town’s communities.”
The matter remains under SAPS investigation following the opening of the case at Athlone Police Station.
No arrests have been confirmed at this stage.
As extortion syndicates continue tightening their grip across parts of the Western Cape, community leaders warn that silence and fear will only deepen the crisis.
For many Muslims in Cape Town, the targeting of a madrassa marks a deeply troubling line crossed, transforming an already devastating criminal epidemic into a direct assault on institutions regarded as sacred pillars of faith, learning and community survival.